TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Israeli and Syrian "medium-ranking" officials reportedly met secretly during Israel's war on Lebanon to prevent a possible escalation in the Golan front.
Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot broke the news Monday, quoting a Washington-based foreign political source who noted that "the aim of the meeting was to coordinate moves and exchange clarifications that neither side intended to re-ignite the dormant front between Israel and Syria."
The source said the meeting took place towards the end of July, a couple of weeks after Hezbollah abducted two Israeli soldiers, sparking the 34-day long war which began July 12.
According to the newspaper, the two sides "also discussed ideas for resuming dialogue for achieving a political settlement."
It said a few months before the war on Lebanon, "Syria approached Israel three times through mediators in order to renew political negotiations," but the Jewish state rejected the Syrian request.
"In return, Israeli warplanes circled above Syrian President Bashar Assad's palace in the coastal city of Latakia on the Mediterranean Sea," the paper said.
It quoted Washington-based sources as saying the Israeli air force flew planes over Assad's palace following tips that a meeting took place in Damascus with Iran and members of al-Qaida. The move was aimed at warning Assad against repeating such meetings.
In another development, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert denied reports he secretly met with a senior member of the Saudi royal family, perhaps King Abdullah himself.
"I did not meet with the Saudi king and I did not meet with any element which should have caused a sensation in the press," Olmert said in an interview with Yediot Ahronot.
Yedioth Ahronot reported Monday morning that Olmert secretly met with a senior member of the Saudi royal family about 10 days ago.
